For decades, television in China was more than just entertainment; it was a powerful tool for cultural unification and information dissemination, primarily through the state-run broadcaster, China Central Television (CCTV). The annual CCTV New Year's Gala (春晚 - chūnwǎn) is a cultural touchstone, watched by hundreds of millions of families simultaneously—a scale of shared media experience that has no true equivalent in the modern West. While in the US, television is a highly fragmented landscape of commercial networks and cable channels, Chinese TV has historically been more centralized. This means TV programs, especially historical dramas and news broadcasts, often reflect and reinforce official narratives and societal values, such as patriotism, respect for authority, and family harmony. In the 21st century, the rise of online streaming platforms like iQiyi (爱奇艺) and Youku (优酷) has challenged the dominance of traditional 电视. Younger generations are more likely to watch shows on their phones and computers. However, the television set remains a central fixture in the family living room, especially for older generations, and continues to be the primary medium for major national events and news.
电视 (diànshì) is used in several common contexts:
The term is neutral and used in all levels of formality, from casual conversation to formal news reports.